academics A HELPING
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Department of Social Work encourages students to take action
▲ Tim Jefferies ’11
Jesus as a social worker “Social work is a good missional fit with Olivet,” notes Dr. Thompson. “It allows a student to be more than just a person of faith. His or her work becomes faith in action.” He believes that Olivet’s social work students are serious about serving the Lord through serving o thers. Tim has eagerly applied his faith to his area of study. It has become a practical way for him to live out the teachings of Jesus. “Social work is infused with Christianity — it’s what the Bible calls us to do. Christ emphasized helping people.”
Sex trafficking, drugs, homelessness, unwanted pregnancies. These issues fill up the daily headlines. But for the Department of Social Work, they are more than just societal problems — they represent real people with real needs. Though a very broad and diverse field, social work comes down to one thing: loving people. No one knows that more than England native Tim Jefferies ’11, who is spending his spring semester doing an internship in Long Beach, Wash., to complete the requirements for his social work degree at Olivet Nazarene University.
By Luke olney ’10
Making a difference And helping people is something Olivet’s social work majors do best. Because application is crucial for students studying social work, they are required to serve 80 volunteer hours in the surrounding c ommunity. With more and more social work majors, classmates are starting to compete with each other for certain opportunities. One of the current initiatives in the department is to give students more options for places to volunteer. With more choices, all students will r eceive placements that align with their career goals.
Just people The son of two chaplains — his dad for the military, his mom for a mental health hospital — serving others comes naturally for Tim. “I have always had an affinity for people,” Tim says in his amiable British accent. “Not numbers, not book work, just people. Social work just made sense in my heart. “I have always been drawn toward having direct communication with and influence on people and what they need.” Dr. Houston Thompson ’97 MCM, chair of the Department of Social Work and Criminal Justice, says social work is “a calling — an opportunity to work a job, make a living and truly live the principles of Christ, day in and day out.”
An adventure After seven semesters of course work, every senior social work major must spend one semester in a field placement. Most students choose someplace local, but Tim and his new wife, fellow social work major Kelsey (Moreau) ’10, wanted an adventure. Tim is one of very few So they packed their bags male social work majors and headed to Washington at Olivet. He estimates state. that in a class of approxi Tim’s field placement mately 30 students, there is at a behavioral health were probably only a gency in Long Beach, five males. This where he works with mental is not exclusive health and substance abuse to Olivet; in fact, patients. He observes other therapists, learning their the entire field various styles, steps and of social work is programs. Eventually, Tim over whelmingly will have his own clients female — close to and will lead his own group 75 percent. sessions. When asked what it is Tim always knew he like to be a male in a femalewanted to help and infludominated area, Tim goodence people, but it was not naturedly replied that he until he was a student at does not mind being outOlivet that this desire maninumbered and “kind of fested itself as a calling to likes the difference.” the field of social work. “Although I may not have been able to pinpoint it right away,” Tim says, “I have been prepared by God through my heart and by Olivet through my mind for the field of social work.” Along with 31 other graduating social work majors, Tim will receive his diploma from Olivet in May 2011. They will be fully equipped to enter a world in dire need of a helping hand.
Social work: A femaledominated field
Professors count Tim, who was inducted into the Phi Alpha National Honor Society for Social Workers in April 2010, is just one of 120 social work majors currently enrolled at Olivet Nazarene University. In fact, social work ranks as the fifth largest ONU department by number of student majors. To serve those in one of the fastest growing areas of study, the department has added two new faculty members in the last three years. There are now four faculty members, which provides more one-on-one time with students. Olivet is unique for the special relationships that so often develop between students and their professors. The highlight of Tim’s academic experience at Olivet was his relationship with Dr. Thompson, whom he calls “a wonderful man.” “I enjoyed getting to know Dr. Thompson in and out of the classroom. He has a massive history in social work. There is so much to learn from him.” Likewise, Dr. Thompson cites the students as the source of his energy. He invests that energy into their lives. In turn, they go out and invest in the lives of others.
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